Metairie Park Country Day School Early Childhood Center

Metairie, LA

Country Day’s philosophy is that children learn best by actively participating in constructing their knowledge by playing and exploring in a stimulating environment. But the existing physical environment did not mesh with that philosophy. The facility, comprised of two old cottages that had been retrofitted for this function, was also too small, so the school needed a larger, purpose-built facility.

It was critical that the new Early Childhood Center maintain the intimate feel of the old buildings, both to relate to the Country Day campus and to provide a nurturing home-like environment for the children. We divided the nine classrooms, administration, conference and support spaces into three new buildings connected by breezeways. This allows the facility to blend in with the cottage architecture of the adjacent campus buildings and reduces the scale of each building to one that is familiar and relatable to the young students. A large “back porch” connects the buildings and provides a much needed area for play and learning in a shady and dry environment. Inside, the classrooms can be opened up to one another via large pocketed doors, allowing more flexibility in use.